Jenny Bell is a burgeoning artist with a past she’s trying to hide. We learn more about her past little by little as we get to know her. She and her friend Minx get the chance to study at Laurelton Institute where Jenny gets to meet her idol Mr. Tiffany and his grandson Oliver.

I’ve loved everything I have read from the author and this doesn’t make an exception. It has less mystical elements in it than the other books I’ve read but the writing is great as always.

Jenny has trouble forgetting the horrible stuff that happened in her past, but it was nice to see how she learns to open up and grow. She learns to use colors in her art, something she has refused to do in the past and a lot of that has to do with Oliver. I loved seeing how their romance grew and he helps Jenny find some confidence in her art.

Another great book by Rose and she always has amazing covers in her books!

Tiffany Blues by M.J. Rose was a page-turner and a great way to escape into the Jazz Age of the early twentieth century.

Author Rose took some facts, some real people, and some real events, and melded them into this novel with some fictional events and characters and managed to produce a book that has a clear period “voice” and allows its reader to time travel to a fascinating era.

The fictional protagonist, 24-year-old Jenny Bell, is talented artist with a complicated past. Bell is living in New York City, attending art classes, and working hard to save money to pay for those classes and hopefully travel to Paris to study someday. She is an orphan. Her father died prior to her birth, and her mother, Faith—also an artist—makes the mistake to marrying a man who seems like a good person to marry outwardly—the Reverend—but who turns out to be abusive. Tragedy strikes when Jenny is a teen, her stepfather dies, then her mother, and eventually her unmarried aunt. Due to her past, Jenny, who is a brilliant artist, will only paint in monochrome—not color.

After Jenny makes her way to Manhattan, she is befriended by another talented art student, Minx, who is extremely weathly, but has troubles of her own due to her profligate behavior which exemplifies the “feel good” behavior some of that era chose.

Jenny and Minx are accepted into a prestigious fellowship program at Louis Comfort Tiffany’s mansion on Long Island Laurelton Hall ( which actually existed) where she spends a summer exploring light and shadows in art and life.

As the novel opens, the year is 1957–the year when the actual Laurelton Hall burned (fact), and Jenny flashes back to that long ago summer and what it was like to experience that estate and the arty set.

The author was wise to craft fact and fiction together and her characters could have stepped out of the pages of an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel they ring so historically true. They also exemplify the shallowness of that era,however, with the more graphic detail of a modern novel rather than the subtlety of Fitzgerald’s era of writing.

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader’s Copy of this novel and for allowing me to review it.

Opening line: I lost my heart long before this fire darkened its edges.

M.J. Rose has been a favorite of mine since reading Seduction about 5 years ago. She knows how to write unique plots with snapshots of real historical places, with characters that are hurting and struggling to hide secrets of the pasts. It’s always a treat opening one of her books. Due to time restraints, I opted for the audio version of Tiffany Blues.

The book opened in 1957 when a fire destroyed the famous Tiffany mansion in Long Island (it's a fact, google it, I did). There was enough in that opening that had me intrigued and curious about this place. The biggest surprise was the location of Hamilton, Ontario playing a pivotal role in Jenny’s past. That’s my neck of the woods (well close enough). One can’t help feeling for Jenny and all she went through, but trying to live a life without the past catching up is hard.

Tiffany Blues is a mysterious story with romance and the historical elements I love. The story goes back and forth to Jenny’s past and 1924, both of which were interesting enough, but I kinda felt it lacked the depth of character development from Rose’s previous books. That being said Jenny was well developed but I would have loved to have known some of the others in this book a little better, like Minx especially.

Coming in at just over 10 hours it was a quick listen with the reader Tavia Gilbert doing a great job. Author notes are always a favorite of mine especially for historical fiction, they were included here and I liked the fact it was at the beginning before the story began.

Wow, this book was so fascinating! I knew nothing about the Tiffanys so I was pleased to read that parts of this book were factual and other parts were fiction. The time period in which this was set is one of my favourites to read about - this had a Great Gatsby/Rules of Civility kind of vibe to it and I loved that. Fascinating genre that is difficult to classify but so much fun to read. I highly recommend this one!

Tiffany Blues is a wonderful new historical fiction novel that is full of drama, mystery, suspense, and art. I was quickly swept into this novel and it held me in its grips until the epic conclusion.

Jenny Bell is an artist living in New York City in 1924. She is determined to learn what she can and to make it as an artist. Her closest friend, Minx Deering, is a wealthy socialite who is also an artist. Jenny keeps in her world of black, white, and greys, but she remembers the colors of a beautiful Tiffany stained glass window that played a significant role in her troubled teenage years. For you see, Jenny Bell, was not always Jenny Bell. She had another name and had a wonderful artist mother who painted Ouija boards. Jenny’s idyllic childhood ends when her mother marries the wrong man. What happened to Jenny and her family? Why does Jenny have a new identity?

Minx believes in Jenny and is able to secure her a coveted summer position at Louis Comfort Tiffany’s artist retreat at his estate, Laurelton Hall on Long Island. Jenny finds inspiration at Laurelton Hall and also finds herself drawn to Tiffany’s grandson Oliver. The past has a way of rearing its head and Jenny finds herself in the center of a burgeoning scandal that also seems to involve her past. What is the truth of Jenny’s history and why is it coming to fruition now? Will she be able to put her past behind her and embrace her art? Will she find true love?

I really enjoyed Tiffany Blues. It was a unique historical setting that involved a lot of interesting elements. I love the 1920s setting itself and involving not only the art world, but the spiritualism of the day. I also knew nothing about Louis Comfort Tiffany of Tiffany fame, his artist colony, or his grand estate. I found it all fascinating. The story itself was riveting and I read the book relatively quickly as I really wanted to see how the story pulled together. The characters and the vivid descriptions were wonderful.

I loved the author’s note at the beginning of the novel explaining the history of Laurelton Hall. It was fascinating. I would have loved to have seen it in its prime before it burned down.

Favorite Quotes:
“Once the present turns to past, all we have left are memories.”

“The press exploits our lives to sell more papers. It ignores our humanity.”

“I’ve always wanted to believe in life after death. In the idea that we’re presented with multiple opportunities to do the right thing from life to life.”

Overall, Tiffany Blues is a gripping and unique historical fiction novel with a wonderful and interesting story that kept me enthralled until the end. I highly recommend it.

Book Source: Review Copy as part of the TLC Book Tour. Thank-you!

I really loved this book and have read several things recently from this time period. I usually reserve 5 stars for "will read this again!" and this is true of "Tiffany Blues".
I have already done my own thorough research on Laurelton Hall and some other details in the book which just goes to show how interesting the subject matter is.
I highly recommend this book (in fact I already have to my sister!) to anyone interested in historical fiction or early 20th century America, or Tiffany history.

I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This wasn't bad, but it just wasn't for me. It didn't really stir any emotions or interest in me. Beautiful cover and book design.

I love a historical fiction book, but I love one even more when there is some truth that backs up the fiction. Louis Comfort Tiffany known for his jewelry company built a beautiful home on Long Island and the truth is that it burned down mysteriously. MJ Rose took this small interesting fact and created a whole story with fantastic characters and kept the biggest part of the truth within a fantastic fiction story.

Jenny Bell was the best character to follow into this crazy art world in the 1920s. To see her enter the world from the outside and then really go deep when she enters into Tiffany's home was so fun to watch. She was the best set of eyes to view this world through with innocence and intrigue.

I loved the small hints of a mystery/thriller throughout the book. These bits really helped with the pacing and the want for me to keep reading and reading! I read this in two sittings and wanted a sequel to curl up with after I finished!

I would say this is my favorite type of book when it is historical fiction and there is a small bit of truth at the center of the whole thing. It makes me do research and learn while also enjoying a riveting story from beginning to end.

Tiffany & Co. has been an obsession of mine since I first laid eyes on their iconic charm bracelet when I was in high school. I always imagined what it would feel like to hold that Tiffany blue box in my hands and place that gorgeous bracelet on my wrist. I could spend hours walking through the store or perusing their expansive catalog. Tiffany & Co. is, and always has been, perfection to me.

Sadly, I do not know much about the company itself or the founder, Charles Lewis Tiffany, which is why Tiffany Blues by M.J. Rose intrigued me.

Though it is a fiction, there are several historical accuracies, which I found utterly fascinating. Tiffany & Co. was founded in 1837 by Charles Lewis Tiffany. His son, Louis Comfort Tiffany, was an artist that created the gorgeous stained glass that Tiffany & Co. was so well known for in their early days. Louis also created a colony for budding artists in the early 1920's called Laurelton Hall in Long Island, New York. This breathtaking mansion and landscape was to serve as a muse for young artists and to help them focus and allow their most creative side to emerge.

Jenny Bell is a 24-year-old struggling artist in New York. In the summer of 1924, Jenny is living with fellow artist, Minx Deering in New York, working several jobs and barely making ends meet. Jenny is incredibly talented but is trapped in the past, the horrible events that transpired between her mother and step-father constantly on her mind; a past that she keeps all to herself for fear of people knowing that she is flawed. This entrapment shows in her work, with the artist painting the same mausoleum over and over in dark tones. Minx sees the talent in her roommate and secretly enters one of her paintings to be reviewed by Tiffany, in hopes to be chosen for the next Laurelton Hall season.

Both Jenny and Minx are accepted and end up being the only two girls at Laurelton Hall that summer. Louis Comfort Tiffany quickly befriends Jenny and takes a personal interest in helping the young artist unleash whatever it is that is blocking her. Jenny vows to focus only on her art but Tiffany's grandson Oliver soon becomes a distraction. Being a virgin, Oliver unleashes a passion within Jenny that she thought would never exist. She gives over to him body, mind, and soul. This newfound desire, mixed with a strained relationship between her and Mix, the constant struggle with her past, and a robbery of the most sought-after jewels in the world, turns Jenny's world upside down and makes for one unforgettable summer.

All in all I liked Tiffany Blues. The sexual parts were done in good taste but Jenny and Oliver's relationship, and Jenny herself, got annoying after awhile. The abuses, though incredibly hard to read, were well thought out and hard to forget due to the incredible writing by M.J. Rose. The author did an wonderful job of being descriptive of the landscape of Laurelton Hall. The imagery converted me back to the roarings '20's and all the glitz and jazz of that era, and just how amazing that estate must've been like.

The fictional part of the narrative was okay but I enjoyed the historical aspects the most and wish they were more in depth. It has definitely piqued my curiosity about Louis Comfort Tiffany and what Laurelton Hall really was like back then. I really enjoyed Minx's character and storyline, and though much of the drama was predictable, I thought the story as a whole was decent enough, and the ending sweet. This is my first book by M.J. Rose but it will not be my last!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Atria Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. All opinions are my own.

I would first like to thank Amy at Virtual book tours and Net galley for letting me be apart of this blog tour. The story takes place in the early part of the 20th century. Jenny Bell is a burgeoning artist with a tragic past that she is desperately trying to keep under wraps.

She is given the chance to study at the Laurelton Institute, where she meets her idol Mr. Tiffany. She also finds love, and is forced to confront her past.

My emotions were all over the place with this book. At times I was feeling happy, furious, anxious, full of hope.

I thought this book was very well written. The pacing of this story was just right. The story was not slow, but neither was it fast either. Another thing I liked about this story was how descriptive it was. Considering that the characters were artist and the plot talked about art. I thought this was kind of fitting.

I thought the characters were all very well written. I think that my favorite character was indeed Jenny. It was her voice that was consistent throughout the story. At times Jenny had trouble in trusting herself and other people. I think this is perfectly understandable given her past.

I love the relationship between her and Oliver. I thought that the relationship was good for Jenny over all. I think that stagnant would be the perfect word describe her. He was able to get her to open up more. He motivated her to go outside her comfort zone on certain things. I think that the relationship helped form the woman she would become in the future.

Over all, I thought this story was very good. I would give this a 5 stars easy. M.J. Rose is a new author for me, so I can safely say that I will be looking at more of her books.

Jenny Bell has run away from a dark past in Hamilton, Ontario and has found her way to New York with a new name, new look and a continuing dream to be an artist. Now, in 1924 Jenny's magnificent studies in black, white and grays in an attempt to capture light have won her a coveted spot in Louis Comfort Tiffany's art colony in Long Island along with her friend Minx. Jenny is inspired by the beauty around her, especially that of Mr. Tiffany's grandson, Oliver. However, the anxiety of her past catching up to her stays with Jenny especially when another artist begins to hint at knowing her past.

Engaging and mysterious, M.J. Rose has taken the unfortunate burning of Louis Comfort Tiffany's Laurelton Hall and created a story of beauty, danger and intrigue. Jenny's character brought me into the story with her puzzling past and intricate artwork. Her refusal to use color in her art was a conundrum considering she saw color in everything else, including people's voices. Rose's writing masterfully created a world of art, color and light; I could perfectly see paintings, imagine Laurelton Hall and the way the sun shone through the stained glass windows. The mystery was well crafted with a slow reveal of Jenny's past, who was torturing her with that knowledge in the present and stolen Tiffany jewels. The Jazz Age was also brought alive in speakeasies, bootleggers, the grandeur of Laurelton Hall and the spiritualism that so many people believed in. Overall, an engaging and fascinating mystery that brings together history, mystery, art and spiritualism.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

Favorite Quotes:

I tried to make my voice light. My mother once told me I had a silver voice that tarnished when I wasn’t giving her the whole truth.

I’ve just always viewed marriage as a job, and it’s not the job I want for myself in the foreseeable future.

I felt as if I’d stepped inside a jewelry box. Everything shone and sparkled and glowed in gemstone shades

We’re all broken in one way or another, but it’s through the cracks in our souls that the light comes through. And the light, Jenny, that’s our art.

My Review:

Tiffany Blues wasn’t at all what I was expecting, and more the better. This was my first exposure to M.J. Rose and I now count myself her newest fan. Her clever combinations of words deftly painted rich and opulent pictures, equivalent in skill and technique to any of the Old Masters. My curiosity was quickly snagged by the intriguing prologue and continued forth as an ominous and haunting ambiance of tension, danger, and potential exposure of long-hidden secrets remained throughout, which kept me on edge and nibbling at my cuticles. The writing was lushly detailed with colorful and lavish descriptions of the well-appointed accommodations, feasts, gardens, and elegant clothing and décor. The storylines were gradually developed yet well-crafted, engaging, tragic, and captivating.

I cannot imagine the amount of research involved in such an undertaking but I reveled in the fruits of her labor as I enjoyed learning many interesting little tidbits and history of the time as was unaware of the trendy interest in spiritualism, the history of Ouija boards, and of Thomas Edison’s Spirit Phone - which I Googled to be certain, and he had actually labored with other scientists of the day toward “a telephone that calls beyond this realm to reach people who have passed.” As neared the end I began to fret with increasing alarm that my niggling questions would be left unanswered. Silly me, I sighed a satisfied and relaxing breath at the clever conclusion. Well-played Ms. Rose, “there is beauty even in broken things.”

I’ve been a fan of M.J. Rose for quite some time. She always writes really rich and atmospheric novels of romance and historical fiction blended together. I love her Reincarnationist series is really fun but I got hooked on her books with her Daughters of La Lune books!

She has this great storytelling style that never seems to fail in any of her series’. She always has this velvety tone and it never fails to hook me.

So when this book came up for review, to say I was thrilled was a complete understatement. More like I was swooning at not only the fact that a new MJ Rose novel was coming out, but the summary sounded so exciting and I was eagerly awaiting the day that I could start this book!

A novel of ambition, betrayal, and passion about a young painter whose traumatic past threatens to derail her career at a prestigious summer artists’ colony run by Louis Comfort Tiffany of Tiffany & Co. fame. “[M.J. Rose] transports the reader into the past better than a time machine could accomplish” (The Associated Press).

New York, 1924. Twenty‑four‑year‑old Jenny Bell is one of a dozen burgeoning artists invited to Louis Comfort Tiffany’s prestigious artists’ colony. Gifted and determined, Jenny vows to avoid distractions and romantic entanglements and take full advantage of the many wonders to be found at Laurelton Hall.

But Jenny’s past has followed her to Long Island. Images of her beloved mother, her hard-hearted stepfather, waterfalls, and murder, and the dank hallways of Canada’s notorious Andrew Mercer Reformatory for Women overwhelm Jenny’s thoughts, even as she is inextricably drawn to Oliver, Tiffany’s charismatic grandson.

As the summer shimmers on, and the competition between the artists grows fierce as they vie for a spot at Tiffany’s New York gallery, a series of suspicious and disturbing occurrences suggest someone knows enough about Jenny’s childhood trauma to expose her.

Supported by her closest friend Minx Deering, a seemingly carefree socialite yet dedicated sculptor, and Oliver, Jenny pushes her demons aside. Between stolen kisses and stolen jewels, the champagne flows and the jazz plays on until one moonless night when Jenny’s past and present are thrown together in a desperate moment, that will threaten her promising future, her love, her friendships, and her very life (summary from Goodreads).

Ok first of all, can I just say how much I love Tiffany’s? I own several pieces of Tiffany jewelry (sadly no diamonds of gemstones) and even though it’s just sterling silver, every time I wear them I feel special and elegant. Tiffany’s understands that feeling and it’s goal is to make everyone feel like that. In this book, that’s exactly what Rose aims to do—create something special.

So this book wasn’t actually about jewelry or the diamond business or anything that the name Tiffany’s might evoke. It was a book about love and artists. I was actually kind of surprised by this because I thought with a name like ‘Tiffany Blues’, the book would be more about the jewelry company, however it focuses on the Tiffany family’s design artist. While this was kind of a surprise for me, I still enjoyed reading it!

This is a work of historical fiction so I am sure the author took a few creative liberties which I didn’t mind. I don’t know much about the Tiffany family beyond the famous name and blue color scheme, so I don’t know how much was truth and how much was fiction and frankly I didn’t care.

Rose does a marvelous job creating a rich and elegant setting and characters for her book—-real or made up, I loved them! True to Rose’s form, she writes with this almost lyrical elegance that I can easily recognize as her signature style. I was completely wrapped up in the characters from almost the very beginning.

I read this book rather quickly. I squeezed it into my review schedule because I wanted to read it so bad. I did so with the hope that I could read it quickly—-and I did. It was an excellent read and went very fast.

The one thing I was a little disappointed with was the cover art. Trivial I know, but I just didn’t like it that much. It had vivid colors but I would have liked to have seem the author capitalize on the Tiffany name a little more in this picture. It just seemed like a missed opportunity.

I read this book as part fo the Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tour, there are a lot of other stops on this tour so be sure to check out the other blogs for giveaways, reviews, and author interviews! The tour schedule is listed at the end of this post!

Challenge/Book Summary:

Book: Tiffany Blues by M.J. Rose

Kindle Edition, 320 pages
Published August 7th 2018 by Atria Books
ASIN B077YXC96N
Review copy provided by: publisher/author in exchange for an honest review, I am reviewing this book as part of the Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours
Recommendation: 4 out of 5

Genre: Historic fiction, mystery, cozy mystery

Memorable lines/quotes:

I love M.J. Rose books because she never disappoints and this one did not. From the moment you start reading this well told story with engaging characters you are engrossed from the very first page until the last. If you haven't read this book you definitely need to pick up. This is a wonderful gem of a book. Happy reading!

When I read the description of Tiffany Blues, it sounded right up my alley: art, history, mystery, romance. However, I found myself never really dazzled by it. I can't quite pinpoint what exactly it was but I just never really connected with the story or the main character.
I liked the art subplot and really enjoyed hearing about all the Tiffany imagery. But, I found that the romance felt a bit too instantaneous for me and I never really fully bought into the depth of their affection for each other. I also found that the mystery, while intriguing, felt a bit heavy handed and honestly after I found out all the details I became somewhat tired of hearing about it. The big reveal at the end was one that I had seen coming for sometime so the element of surprise was not there for me.
Overall, an ok historical romance / mystery.

TIFFANY BLUES by M.J. Rose was honestly a bit of a disappointment. Several years ago, I had so enjoyed delving into the historical fiction work Clara and Mr. Tiffany by Susan Vreeland that I enthusiastically requested this new title about Louis Comfort Tiffany and Laurelton Hall, the home he built on Long Island. Rose, too, has researched the period and integrates historical figures, but the emphasis is different and the sexual abuse that main character Jenny Bell observed as a young teenager permeates the entire story. Like Gatsby (to which it is often compared), this title seemed more concerned with excesses of the Jazz Age and social status. TIFFANY BLUES contains elements of romance, secrets involving a murder, drug abuse, even some paranormal aspects with Ouija board consultations, but Vreeland's work was much more focused on the artistic techniques and gender prejudices of the time.

another masterpiece by MJ Rose. The art lesson was sublime, but it was the mystery that kept me on my toes. It made me dance and twirl like Jenny. Kept in the dark, I had to smell the flowers until I come upon some answers in the book..
Tiffany Blues has it all: alcohol, mystery, danger and love.

There aren't enough stars to adequately rate this book! Have you ever looked at a work of art and been utterly transfixed for reasons you cannot explain? Rose is able to recreate that. Her descriptions of beauty are unparalleled. You can smell the flowers, you can feel the serenity, you get that same sense of awe that visitors did when placed in Tiffany's realm. Rose weaves an elaborate narrative. Most of us can easily relate to Ms. "Light's" inability to let go of the past, embrace the present, and accept the possibilities that the future holds. Readers will find themselves pitying, hating, loving, admiring, grieving, and forgiving. M.J. Rose has once again created a masterful work of art.

Jenny Bell is my character of the month. Of all the books I’ve read in the last 30 days, Jenny is the one I loved the most. Maybe it is her tragic past. Which made me cry. Or her artists optimism. Or determination to move forward. Its all those things really.

But if she does not have good supporting characters, the story would go nowhere. Minx Deering is the rich girl that does whatever she wants and gets away with it. You really want to set her down for a good talking to sometimes. Ben is the reporter that Jenny wants to trust, but can’t because he is a reporter and reporters ruin lives.

Then there is Oliver Comfort Tiffany, grandson of the great Louis Comfort Tiffany. He is the sort of rebel without a cause who befriends Jenny and encourages her when she needs it. Jenny and Oliver will become the two halves of one heart. But they are from opposite sides of the social spectrum and really, can that ever work out?

Perhaps my favorite supporting character is the man Louis Comfort Tiffany himself. He tells his own stories to enlighten his art. He guides Jenny with both suggestions and orders. His interactions with Jenny are beautiful and even spiritual. It is his line “…there is beauty even in broken things.” that brought tears to my eyes.

In addition to these exceptional characters, there is jazz, art and philosophy. And there is a mystery. While I did not find the mystery all that mysterious, it was critical in leading up the the climax, so pay attention!

In Tiffany Blues, the author’s notes are at the beginning of the story, which I liked. One of the reasons for the placement, I believe, is to tell the story of Laurelton Hall, the place Jenny and her fellow artists go to study with Mr. Tiffany. There is a mystery there too. In 1957, the magnificent hall was burned down and no explanation was ever made. The thing is, despite the precisely worded Author’s Note, while I was entranced by Jenny Bell’s Jazz Age story, I forgot all about Laurelton Hall’s unfortunate demise until the very end. Tiffany Blues is Ms. Rose’s brilliant explanation for the fire.

Tiffany Blues is a heartachingly beautiful story set in the Jazz Age amidst the exquisite art of Louis Comfort Tiffany. Art lovers will be drawn to this story, but anyone can savor it, as I did.

Through NetGalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book so that I could bring you this honest review.

Little slow but a good read. Expected more history but loved the mystery. Will read this author in the future.